Meetings

NDM7487 Mike Hedges (Swansea East)

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes the draft National Development Framework, laid on 21 September 2020.

2. Notes that, in accordance with Section 3 of the Planning (Wales) Act 2015, the 60-day Senedd consideration period began on the day on which the draft of the Framework was laid in the Senedd.

3. Notes that, in accordance with Section 3 of the Planning (Wales) Act 2015, the Welsh Ministers must have regard to any resolution passed by the Senedd and any recommendation made by a committee of the Senedd with regard to the draft during that 60-day period.

Planning (Wales) Act 2015

Supporting documents
Report of the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee: Future Wales: The National Plan 2040
Letter from the Enterprise, Infrastructure and Skills Committee to the Minister for Housing and Local Government
Response from Minister for Housing and Local Government to the Enterprise, Infrastructure and Skills Committee
Letter from the Culture, Welsh Language and Communications Committee to the Minister for Housing and Local Government

The following amendments have been tabled:

Amendment 1 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

Add as new points at end of motion:

Believes that the revised four-region model in Future Wales: the national plan 2040:

a) has been inspired by a Conservative, unionist agenda based on the UK Government’s city and growth deals;

b) would drive a wedge into Wales, splitting the north of our country from the south and would do little to proactively improve north-south connectivity; and

c) would neglect some of those parts of Wales most in need of regeneration and development, namely the western seaboard and the valleys of the south.

Calls on the Welsh Government to replace the four-region model proposed in Future Wales: the national plan 2040 with an alternative regional map of Wales focused on making Wales a connected, sustainable, prosperous and self-sufficient nation in every sense.

Future Wales: the national plan 2040

Amendment 2 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

Add as new points at end of motion:

Notes that Dr Neil Harris of Cardiff University, in evidence to the Senedd’s Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, summarised the approach underpinning Future Wales: the national plan 2040 as one which is based on urban-focused growth and stability elsewhere.

Believes that the approach underpinning Future Wales: the national plan 2040:

a) threatens to entrench the failure to distribute wealth, growth and development equally across Wales as a permanent feature of Wales’s governance in this long-term plan; and

b) will lead to overdevelopment in the areas already prioritised as preferred locations for substantial residential and other development, whilst doing little to address the need for sustainable development in other areas including the need for social and affordable housing to meet the housing crisis.

Believes that the planning system in Wales must reflect the need for suitable development in the right places according to local need; give communities a greater say in developments in their areas and that the planning system must permit holistic planning at the appropriate level, but believes that the transfer of power and accountability over planning from local authorities to corporate joint committees through strategic development plans is likely to further limit the local voice in planning.

Calls on the Welsh Government to replace the approach which currently underpins Future Wales: the national plan 2040 with an alternative approach focused on distributing wealth, power and investment equitably across the whole of Wales by targeting intervention and growth to the areas in most need.

Written submission by Neil Harris in advance of evidence session on the National Development Framework for the Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee - October 2019

The item started at 16.14

Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

NDM7487 Mike Hedges (Swansea East)

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes the draft National Development Framework, laid on 21 September 2020.

2. Notes that, in accordance with Section 3 of the Planning (Wales) Act 2015, the 60-day Senedd consideration period began on the day on which the draft of the Framework was laid in the Senedd.

3. Notes that, in accordance with Section 3 of the Planning (Wales) Act 2015, the Welsh Ministers must have regard to any resolution passed by the Senedd and any recommendation made by a committee of the Senedd with regard to the draft during that 60-day period.

Planning (Wales) Act 2015

The following amendments were tabled:

Amendment 1 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

Add as new points at end of motion:

Believes that the revised four-region model in Future Wales: the national plan 2040:

a) has been inspired by a Conservative, unionist agenda based on the UK Government’s city and growth deals;

b) would drive a wedge into Wales, splitting the north of our country from the south and would do little to proactively improve north-south connectivity; and

c) would neglect some of those parts of Wales most in need of regeneration and development, namely the western seaboard and the valleys of the south.

Calls on the Welsh Government to replace the four-region model proposed in Future Wales: the national plan 2040 with an alternative regional map of Wales focused on making Wales a connected, sustainable, prosperous and self-sufficient nation in every sense.

Future Wales: the national plan 2040

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was not agreed.

Amendment 2 Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

Add as new points at end of motion:

Notes that Dr Neil Harris of Cardiff University, in evidence to the Senedd’s Climate Change, Environment and Rural Affairs Committee, summarised the approach underpinning Future Wales: the national plan 2040 as one which is based on urban-focused growth and stability elsewhere.

Believes that the approach underpinning Future Wales: the national plan 2040:

a) threatens to entrench the failure to distribute wealth, growth and development equally across Wales as a permanent feature of Wales’s governance in this long-term plan; and

b) will lead to overdevelopment in the areas already prioritised as preferred locations for substantial residential and other development, whilst doing little to address the need for sustainable development in other areas including the need for social and affordable housing to meet the housing crisis.

Believes that the planning system in Wales must reflect the need for suitable development in the right places according to local need; give communities a greater say in developments in their areas and that the planning system must permit holistic planning at the appropriate level, but believes that the transfer of power and accountability over planning from local authorities to corporate joint committees through strategic development plans is likely to further limit the local voice in planning.

Calls on the Welsh Government to replace the approach which currently underpins Future Wales: the national plan 2040 with an alternative approach focused on distributing wealth, power and investment equitably across the whole of Wales by targeting intervention and growth to the areas in most need.

A vote was taken on amendment 2:

Amendment 2 was not agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM7487 Mike Hedges (Swansea East)

To propose that the Senedd: 

1. Notes the draft National Development Framework, laid on 21 September 2020.

2. Notes that, in accordance with Section 3 of the Planning (Wales) Act 2015, the 60-day Senedd consideration period began on the day on which the draft of the Framework was laid in the Senedd.

3. Notes that, in accordance with Section 3 of the Planning (Wales) Act 2015, the Welsh Ministers must have regard to any resolution passed by the Senedd and any recommendation made by a committee of the Senedd with regard to the draft during that 60-day period.

Planning (Wales) Act 2015

The motion without amendment was agreed.

In accordance with Standing Order 12.18, at 17.16 the Presiding Officer suspended the meeting.

8.1 The Committee discussed and agreed its draft report, subject to a few amendments.

Graeme Purves, Expert Adviser to the Committee

7.1 The Committee considered the evidence heard under items 2, 3 and 4.

Eleri Davies, Head of Consents UK, Onshore Wind - RWE Renewables

Rhys Wyn Jones, Director - Renewable UK Cymru

4.1 The Committee heard evidence from Eleri Davies, RWE Renewables and Rhys Wyn Jones, Renewable UK Cymru.

Hêdd Roberts, Head of Customer Solutions, Electricity Transmission – National Grid

3.1 The Committee heard evidence from Hêdd Roberts, the National Grid.

Dr Roisin Willmott OBE, Director of Wales and Northern Ireland – Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI) Cymru

Dr Neil Harris, Senior Lecturer – School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University

2.1 The Committee heard evidence from Dr Roisin Willmott, Royal Town Planning Institute Cymru, and Dr Neil Harris, School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University.

6.1 Members discussed the evidence received under item 3.

Graeme Purves, Expert Adviser to the Committee

1.1        Members received a briefing by Graeme Purves, Expert Adviser to the Committee on the draft National Development Framework.

1.2        Members asked questions and discussed key issues identified from the briefing.

Julie James MS, Minister for Housing and Local Government

Jon Fudge, Head of Planning Policy

Neil Hemington, Head of Planning

3.1 Members questioned the Minister for Housing and Local Government and her officials on the Welsh Government’s second iteration of the National Development Framework for Wales.

4.1.a. The Committee noted the letter from the Minister for Housing and Local Government to all Committee Chairs in relation to the National Development Framework.

4.1 The papers were noted.

5.1 The Committee discussed and agreed the draft Report subject to a few minor amendments.

James Byrne, Living Landscapes Manager – Wildlife Trusts Wales

Anthony Geddes, National Manager for Wales – Confor

Jerry Langford, Public Affairs Manager - Woodland Trust

Mike Wilkinson, Senior Conservation Planner– RSPB Cymru

The Committee received evidence from James Byrne, Living Landscapes Manager, Wildlife Trusts Wales; Anthony Geddes, National Manager for Wales, Confor; Jerry Langford, Public Affairs Manager, Woodland Trust; Mike Wilkinson, Senior Conservation Planner, RSPB Cymru.

Graeme Purves, Expert Adviser to the Committee

5.1 The Committee received a briefing from Graeme Purves, Expert Adviser to the Committee.

5.2 The Committee discussed and reviewed the evidence it has received on the draft National Development Framework for Wales 2020-2040.

5.3 The Committee raised issues and recommendations it wishes to raise in its report to the Welsh Government.

Will Ryan, Director, Planning - Savills

Rhys Wyn Jones, Head - Renewable UK Cymru

Eleri Davies, Head of Consents UK – Innogy Renewables UK Ltd

The Committee received evidence from Will Ryan, Director, Planning, Savills; Rhys Wyn Jones, Head, Renewable UK Cymru; and Eleri Davies, Head of Consents UK, Innogy Renewables UK Ltd.

8.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received under items 3 and 4.

Ifan Glyn, Senior Hub Director and Wales Director – Federation of Master Builders

Mark Harris, Planning and Policy Advisor Wales - Home Builders Federation

Matthew Dicks, Director – Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru

4.1 The Committee received evidence from Ifan Glyn, Senior Hub Director and Wales Director, Federation of Master Builders; Mark Harris, Planning and Policy Advisor Wales, Home Builders Federation; and Matthew Dicks, Director, Chartered Institute of Housing Cymru.

Mari Arthur, Director – Sustain Wales

Prof Dave Chadwick, Professor of Sustainable Land Use Systems – Bangor University

5.1 The Committee received evidence from Mari Arthur, Director Sustain Wales; and Dave Chadwick, Professor of Sustainable Land Use Systems, Bangor University.

Ludi Simpson, National Assembly for Wales Research Service -Academic Fellow - Honorary Professor (School of Social Sciences and Cathie Marsh Institute for Social Research) - Manchester University

3.1 The Committee received a technical briefing from Ludi Simpson, Academic Fellow – Manchester University.

6.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received under items 2 and 3.

Victoria Robinson, Vice Chair - Planning Officers Society Wales (POSW), and, Operational Manager for Planning and Building Control – Vale of Glamorgan Council

Tracy Nettleton, Planning and Heritage Manager - Brecon Beacons National Park Authority, and, member of Planning Officers Society Wales (POSW)

3.1 The Committee received evidence from Victoria Robinson, Vice Chair, Planning Officers Society Wales and Planning Manager for Planning and Building Control – Vale of Glamorgan Council; Tracy Nettleton, Planning and Heritage Manager - Brecon Beacons National Park Authority; and Cath Ranson, Planning Policy Manager – Ceredigion County Council.

Dr Roisin Willmott OBE - Director, Royal Town Planning Institute Cymru

Dr Neil Harris - Senior Lecturer, School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University

2.1 The Committee received evidence from Dr Roisin Willmott, Director – Royal Town Planning Institute Cymru, and Dr Neil Harris, Senior Lecturer, School of Geography and Planning – Cardiff University.

Graeme Purves, Expert Adviser to the Committee

Elfyn Henderson, Senior Researcher – National Assembly for Wales

4.1 The Chair welcomed Graeme Purves, Expert Adviser to the Committee to the meeting.

Graeme Purves, Expert Adviser to the Committee

6.1 The Committee received a briefing from Graeme Purves, Expert Advisor to the Committee on the draft National Development Framework 2020-2040.

6.2 Members asked questions and discussed key issues identified from the briefing.

6.3 The Committee agreed on an approach to its scrutiny of the draft National Development Framework 2020-2040.

Neil Hemington, Head of Planning - Welsh Government

Jon Fudge, Head of Planning Policy - Welsh Government

5.1 The Committee received a technical briefing from Jon Fudge, Head of Planning Policy, Welsh Government and Neil Hemington, Head of Planning, Welsh Government.

5.2 Members asked questions and raised key issues with the Welsh Government officials.

5.1 The Committee considered the National Development Framework and agreed to give it further consideration in the autumn term.

Neil Hemington, Head of Planning

Gareth Hall, Senior Planning Manager – Plans

Jonni Tomos, Senior Planning Manager - Climate Change Adaptation

Gemma Christian, Planning Manager - Planning Bill Team

Members received a presentation and asked questions on the National Development Framework for Wales.

John Davies MBE, former Chair of the Independent Advisory Group on Reform of the Planning System in Wales

Neil Harris, Senior Lecturer, School of Geography and Planning, Cardiff University

Members noted the National Development Framework will be signed off by the National Assembly for Wales in April 2020.

The Committee received a briefing on the National Development Framework and agreed to undertake further work on the draft proposals between April 2018 and 2020.